Radnor mansion blaze ruled accidental; fuel spill, wires led to fire

A Radnor homeowner was transported to Crozer Burn Center Wednesday after a vehicle at his home caught fire and spread to the home on the unit block of Wyndom Lane, according to police. Photo Pete Bannan

RADNOR  Officials in Radnor confirmed Monday the official cause of a fire on Wednesday that ripped through a home in the township and caused extensive damage was accidental and occurred when an electrical wire sparked the blaze.

The fire was accidental and resulted from a fuel spill that was ignited by an electric arc, said Don Wood, fire marshal in Radnor.

As of Monday afternoon, the damage was described as extensive and insurance adjusters were still on the property evaluating the damage.

The fire broke out June 9 shortly after 4 p.m. and was initially thought to have started in the area of a portico before spreading to other sections of the house. That assessment turned out to be correct.

Advertisement

As of last Friday afternoon, officials were still interviewing witnesses and would only say at that time that the fire was of an undetermined origin. Still, there was conjecture at that time that the fire might have been connected to the fuel spill in the area where the home owner was reportedly working on a car.

According to county property records, the home is owned by Joseph Montrella and was built in 2001-2002. It last had a county assessed value of $958,300. The two-story home sits on one acre of land situated on Wyndom Lane.

The initial call came in as a car fire but the flames quickly spread to other parts of the home. Officials say the homeowner was transported an area hospital. Wood said he was released the next day. An early report of one firefighter being injured turned out not to be anything serious, Wood said.

Fire crews from eight different companies responded to the fire, Wood said.